Estudo do perfil de peptídeos salivares de crianças com cárie da primeira infância : uma visão da saliva como meio diagnóstico

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to find a relation between salivary peptides, caries experience and mutans streptococci (MS) levels in saliva of caries free (CF) and caries susceptible (CS) children in early childhood. One hundred and six 10 – 71 month-old children participated in the study. Fifty-eight children were CF and 48 who had experienced dental caries formed the CS group. Two samples of whole saliva were collected from all participants. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected, subsequently centrifuged. Supernatants were lyophilized, divided into two pools (CF and CS) and individual samples, and stored at -20oC for posterior analysis using LC-MS (Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry) to study the peptide profile. Identification of salivary peptides was based on theoretical molecular masses available from online databases. Stimulated whole saliva was collected and used for MS detection in MSB agar medium. MS concentration in saliva was reported in cfu/mL. Dental examination was performed and dmfs/dmft scores were calculated. Data was analysed by using logistic regression. The chromatograms from CF and CS pools of saliva had different peak patterns. The identification of molecular masses suggested the presence of 9 peptides. Three of them were significantly related with caries experience. The presence of HNP-3 (α-defensin 3) (p = 0.019) and HBD-3 (β-defensin 3) (p = 0.034) reduced the chances of experiencing early childhood caries (ECC). The presence of PRP IB-4 significantly increased caries experience (p = 0.035). In addition, age (p = 0.020) and MS counts (p = 0.036) increased caries experience, however gender was not associated with dental caries (p = 0.877). Our results suggest that presence of specific peptides in saliva of CF or CS children in early childhood predisposes to a higher or lower risk of caries experience.